Pressurized window washer



March 26, 1963 J, H, WELLS 3,082,467

v PRESSURIZED WINDOW WASHER Filed Feb. 12, 1960 55 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ELLE INVENTOR. JBHN l4. \A/sus 3,982,467 rnassnmann WKNDGW WAHER John H. Wells, 75 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago 1, Ill. File-d Feb. 12, 196i), Ser. No. 8,258 3 Claims. (Cl. -504) This invention relates to what may be properly termed a pressurized window washer, the same being characterized by the fact that it is adapted for and particularly designed to accomplish window washing with greater ease, particularly large expanses of glass, and likewise particularly dirty glass.

This invention is further a substantial improvement over my prior invention now embodied in patent issued to me on April 29, 1958, No. 2,832,086 for an invention entitled Window Washing Device.

My prior invention contemplated the provision of a hand manipulated window washing device, in which steam is generated in a chamber carried in the handle of the device, and directed to a distributor bar, mounted so as to direct streams of steam beneath a squeegee portion, which is a part of the device.

While my prior device served a very important purpose and constituted a marked improvement over any prior invention, since it provided steam and directed the same onto a surface, which in the same motion was dried by the squeegee action of a rubber blade which is provided, it has disadvantages.

One of the disadvantages of my prior device, was the fact that there was no control over the amount of steam directed to the surface that was to be washed, except insofar as the amount of water placed in the container was small or great as the case may be, and there was no possibility of shutting off the steam when desired, and

g as was often the case was necessary since periodic ejection of steam appears to be the most satisfactory way of effecting the window washing where a squeegee of the type herein contemplated is availed of.

Another primary difficulty with my prior invention, is the fact that the quantity of water or liquid is limited as to supply, and thus the quantity of steam to be generated was likewise limited with the constant flow feature militating against particularly advantageous operation.

As will be understood from a consideration of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a pressurized window washer, which has none of the objections formerly existing with regard to such devices, and at the same time provides for control of steam generation, and ejection of the same as required under control conditions where periodic use of the same is necessary, together with the fact that the amount of steam to be generated is substantially greater by reason of a greater capacity of the washer hereof.

A more specific object of this invention, is to provide a more compact type of window washing device or pressurized window washer, which avails of valve mechanism to control the delivery of steam to the place where desired,

the device embodying a squeegee and a steam distributor, which is supplied from a generating portion of the device.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a window Washer in which a replaceable cartridge type of arrangement is availed of, whereby a window washing compound which will be susceptible of being placed under pressure is contemplated, which cartridge is arranged to be connected up and may be disposable or not as desired in the scope hereof. j

A still further object of this invention, is to provide a window washer in which the fluid may be pressurized and supplied under control conditions into a steam generating chamber, from which chamber the steam is directed to a distributor, the distributor in turn permitting the ejection 3,082,467 Patented Mar. 26, 1 963 "ice 2 of steam as required by the operator, with coordinated movements of the device as a whole, to efiect window washing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a window washer in which a cartridge is provided which may be filled with suitable liquid, this liquid involving detergents of one kind or another which are particularly suitable for cleaning smooth surfaces such as windows, it being apparent that the washer is not limited to window washing but may be availed of under various conditions for cleaning similar surfaces such as tile, or metal as the case may be.

A subsidiary object of the invention is to provide the cartridge previously referred to which may be either disposable or which may be refillable as desired, and placed under pressure either as a consequence of the manufacture thereof, or under the control of the operator of the window washer himself.

With the foregoing in mind, the invention is described in conjunction with the specification of which the foregoing is a part, and shown in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken about through the middle of the device hereof, illustrating the relationship of the various parts.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view in elevation, showing certain other phases of the invention and elements thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4- is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and arranged to more. particularly disclose the form of steam generater and distributor provided.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the disclosure of FIG URE 4 further illustrating certain phases of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a view of a modified form of cartridge which may be availed of and substituted for the cartridge shown in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2 as providing for a supply of liquid which may be used to generate steam, this latter cartridge being susceptible of being filled and placed under pressure by manual manipulation.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the-washer of this invention is shown as comprising a body generally denoted 1 which as indicated in FIGURE 2 is substantially T-shaped 'to be incorporated therein.

Within the transverse portion of the body 2, is arranged a steam generating unit designated 4, which is a tubular sort of member, having mounted there within, an electric heater 5 which contains suitable electrical elements and is so arranged that it may be removed, the same being positioned within the tube as for example by the nut such as 6, more particularly shown in FIGURE 2, which is engaged with threads formed in the end of the tubular member, the actual detail being disclosed on a very much enlarged scale in FIGURE 4. The tubular member in which the heater element 5 is mounted, is designated 7 for descriptive purposes, and includes an outlet about centrally as indicated in FIGURE 2 and likewise in FIGURE 5 designated 8, which outlet 8 is a form of a tubular connection with a distributor tube 9, the tube 9 having a series of holes 10 therein. The holes 10 are intended to direct the steam as indicated in FIGURE 1 to a position outwardly of the body and beneath a squeegee or rubber blade 11 which is connected along the edge of the cross member 2 in any preferred manner such as indicated at 12.

The steam generating unit 4 is shown as being supported within the portion 2 of the body 1 by means of suitable straps such as 13, which are fastened to depending por- 3 tions 14, as viewed in FIGURE 1, of the body as by means of the screws 15 illustrated.

The electrical connection for the generating unit 4- is provided by a suitable wire or cable 16 extending through the nut 6 and outwardly through the body portion 2. A suitable electric control unit is provided in the line 16 as indicated at 17 and includes a switch arm 18 extending therefrom.

Mounted in rear of and connected to the steam generator unit 4 by a tubular connection is a valve mechanism enerally denoted 20, including a body 21, to which the tubular member 19 is connected, the body 21 having therewithin a valve operating member 22, in the form of a rod which is arranged to engage a ball 23, which ball is normally maintained in engagement with a seat 24 by a spring 25, the rod 22 extending outwardly from the body 21 and terminating at its upper end in a cap member 26. The cap member 26 upon being depressed will clearly carry the rod 22 therewith and in turn cause the ball 23 to move away from the seat 24 against the spring 25, thus opening a passage from a connection 27 which is provided with threads on its exterior portion, the passage being denotedZS and formed within the extension.

The passage 28 and the portion 27 in which the same is for-med, is intended to be connected with a cartridge 36 which in this instance as illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a pro-pressurized container, which includes a ball valve unit 31 at one end. The ball valve unit 31 is provided with a section 32 which is adapted to engage the portion 27 previously referred to andin which the passage 28 is formed. The member 27 may be inserted in the member 32 and threadedly engaged with the container 30 by suitable manipulation which will cause a ball 33 to move against a spring 34 and permit liquid under pressure to enter the ball valve through an opening 35 provided. The container 30 having the pressurized material therein, may be a liquid having a detergent therein, or it may be a clear liquid, and will provide a pressurized supply to the valve unit 20 previously described in detail.

A handle 35 is mounted on the upper portion of the body 1, and includes therein a valve operating device 36, which has a stem '37 thereon, the device 36 operating against spring 38 which normally maintains the stem 37 in its uppermost or inoperative position. Manipulation of the device 36 downwardly by the thumb of the user for example, will cause the stem 37 to engage the cap member 26 previously described and thus actuate the valve mechanism, permitting the pressurized liquid from the container 3% to flow through the passage 28 and thence to the tube 19 and thus the generator 4 previously described.

The generator 4 may have been previously placed in heated condition by operation of the electric control unit 17, and thus the heater element therein is heated. The liquid entering through the tube 19 will impinge against the element and generate steam, which is in turn directed through the tube 8 to the distributor 9 and outwardly from the openings 16 therein onto the surface adjacent which the washer is being manipulated and near the blade 11 previously mentioned.

In order to hold the cartridge 30 in place, a suitable set screw such as 40 is provided, such screw 40 having a shoe 41 thereon which by manipulation of the member 40 will engage the outer surface of the cartridge 30.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the cartridge 30 may be removed and a different type of cartridge such as 45 substituted therefor, the cartridge 45 including a tubular shell 46 and a suitable connection at one end thereof including the ball valve unit 47 therein provided, which is intended to engage with the extension 27 described, by the threads provided therefor. A ball 48 operating against a spring 49 will permit liquid or other material under pressure within the shell 46 to enter the opening 50 as may be required by manipulation of the operating means 36 previously mentioned.

In order to pressurize the container 45, a suitable spring pressed plunger 51 may be provided, the plunger 51 being connected with a rod 52 around which a suitable spring 53 is arranged the rod 52 extending through a cap 54 and having a handle 55.

The rod 52 may pass through a suitable type of gland and nut arrangement of any preferred form which is not illustrated in detail but denoted 56, whereby upon manipulation thereof the rod 52 may be maintained in any desired position and released at will. The spring 53 is compressed when the plunger is moved downward as viewed in FIGURE 6 and when the cartridge 45 is provided with suitable contents, upon release of the rod, the plunger 51 will place the liquid or other material in the cartridge 45 under pressure for ejection.

A suitable fill cap 57 may be provided for the cartridge 45 and any type of liquid may be placed therein. It will be understood that this cartridge 45 is susceptible of being positioned within the body 1 previously mentioned in the sleeve 58 which is integral with the body and provides for guiding and positioning of the cartridge 30 or 45 as the case may be. The elongated slot 60 in the sleeve 58 enables the fill cap to be removed when the cartridge 4,5 is in the same connected position as the cartridge 30 of FIGURE 1.

From the foregoing description, the window washer of this invention has been described as being provided with a cartridge such as 3t) or 45, which contains a suitable washing fluid under pressure, adapted to be released by a valve mechanism 20 into a steam generator 4, and in turn distributed by a distributor 9 to any position desired under the control of valve means manipulated by the user. The washer is connected to a suitable electrical supply which will cause the generation of the steam and its delivery under the control of the operator.

The use of steam as a washing fluid whether provided with a detergent or not is most suitable for windows and cleaning similar surfaces.

The generation and delivery of steam to window surfaces or similar surfaces, accompanied by suitable manipulation of a squeegee blade such as 11 illustrated in a drawing, is most effective in removing all kinds of dirt therefrom whether incrusted or otherwise, and has been found particularly suitable for surfaces of glass or the like.

Iclaim:

1. In a surface cleaning device of the class described, the combination comprising a body having a rearward open end for reception of a pre-pressurized disposable container and means for securing said container at least partially within said body, said body having a substantially closed end forwardly thereof formed with an elongated hood extending substantially transversely of the axis of said body, said hood having an elongated forward edge and a resilient wiper carried thereby, a steam generating unit within said hood and being elongated in the direction of said wiper and having an axis generally parallel to said elongated wiper member and being substantially longer than the dimension of said body in the same direction, a distributor connected to said steam generator and being disposed adjacent to and below said wiper and extending substantially the length of said wiper, a handle carried by said body and extending in a direction generally normal to the axis of said wiper, a valve mechanism in said body cornprisin' means extending outwardly of said body and manually operable for controlling fluid flow from said container to said steam generator, and means for effecting a fluid passageway from said container through said valve mechanism. a

2. In a surface cleaning device of the class described, the combination comprising a body having a rearward open end for reception of a pie-pressurized disposable container and means for securing said container at least partially within said body, said body having a forwardly disposed transversely elongated hood and a wiper element extending therefrom, steam generating and distributing means within said hood, and means comprising a flow control element for connecting said steam generating and distributing means to a pre-pressurized container secured within said body.

3. In a surface cleaning device of the class described, a body having an open rear end in which to receive the forward portions of a ire-pressurized disposable container, means for securing said container to said body, said body having a forward end provided with a hood,

said hood being provided with a wiper element, steam generating and distributing means housed in said hood including flow connection means therefrom to a pre-pressurized container, said flow connection means comprising a flow control element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,947,714 Harmon Feb. 20, 1934 1,975,585 Koukal Oct. 2, 1934 2,294,578 Shapiro et a1. Sept. 1, 1942 2,756,908 Miller July 31, 1956 2,832,086 Wells Apr. 29, 1958 2,849,736 Kohle Sept. 2, 1958 2,887,272 Rosenthal May 19, 1959 

3. IN A SURFACE CLEANING DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A BODY HAVING AN OPEN REAR END IN WHICH TO RECEIVE THE FORWARD PORTIONS OF A PRE-PRESSURIZED DISPOSABLE CONTAINER, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CONTAINER TO SAID BODY, SAID BODY HAVING A FORWARD END PROVIDED WITH A HOOD, SAID HOOD BEING PROVIDED WITH A WIPER ELEMENT, STEAM 